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BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Relationship of muscle function to circulating myostatin, follistatin and GDF11 in older women and men

Authors: Elizaveta Fife, Joanna Kostka, Łukasz Kroc, Agnieszka Guligowska, Małgorzata Pigłowska, Bartłomiej Sołtysik, Agnieszka Kaufman-Szymczyk, Krystyna Fabianowska-Majewska, Tomasz Kostka

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Myostatin, its inhibitor follistatin, and growth/differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) have been proposed as factors that could potentially modify biological aging. The study aimed to test whether there is a relationship between these plasma circulating proteins and muscle strength, power and optimal shortening velocity (υopt) of older adults.

Methods

The cross-sectional study included 56 women and 45 men aged 60 years and older. Every participant underwent examination which included anthropometric and bioimpedance analysis measurements, functional and cognitive performance tests, muscle strength of upper and lower extremities, muscle power testing with two different methods and blood analyses.

Results

Women had higher plasma levels of myostatin and GDF11 than men. Men had higher plasma level of follistatin than women. In women, plasma level of myostatin was negatively correlated with left handgrip strength and υopt. Follistatin was negatively correlated with maximum power output (Pmax), power relative to kg of body mass (Pmax∙kg− 1) (friction-loaded cycle ergometer) and power at 70% of the 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength value (P70%) of leg press (Keiser pneumatic resistance training equipment), and positively correlated with the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test. GDF11 was negatively correlated with body mass, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass and the percentage of body fat. In men, there were no significant correlations observed between circulating plasma proteins and muscle function measures.

Conclusions

The circulating plasma myostatin and follistatin are negatively associated with muscle function in older women. There is stronger relationship between these proteins and muscle power than muscle strength. GDF11 has a higher association with the body mass and composition than muscle function in older women.
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Metadata
Title
Relationship of muscle function to circulating myostatin, follistatin and GDF11 in older women and men
Authors
Elizaveta Fife
Joanna Kostka
Łukasz Kroc
Agnieszka Guligowska
Małgorzata Pigłowska
Bartłomiej Sołtysik
Agnieszka Kaufman-Szymczyk
Krystyna Fabianowska-Majewska
Tomasz Kostka
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0888-y

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